Featured Artist

After years of professional education and workforce program administration, policy work and teaching it became clear to me that my heart and soul required me to engage in an activity that created an actual product…and that need found fruition when I became totally engaged and immersed in artistic work with glass—I discovered that an artist lived inside me!

Since I lived near I was able to take my beginning training in workshops at Bullseye. I met and learned from many wonderful glass artists there and through my membership in the early days of the Guild. When I retired I was very fortunate to be accepted to train with Klaus Moje at a summer session at Pilchuck! That workshop was amazing, Klaus of course was wonderful, as was Steve Klein and the whole cohort of students. Many of my fellow students are lifelong friends and active leaders in today’s glass community.

My work in the glass studio is filled with the reflection of light through luminescent sheets of glass. I am alternately calmed and excited as the kilnforming processes of cutting, grinding, firing, and polishing of the glass produces vessels or sculptural works of art that I enjoy and that others find joy in also.

Red glass, whether opal or transparent inspires me! Often it seems to just jump out of the glass bins onto the cutting table demanding to be fashioned into something that makes a bold statement or simply raises my spirits !

Glass can almost seem magical. The chemical makeup of the glass, its color and composition can create amazing reactions that change, enrich and surprise. This piece is an example of reactions in action!

This Petrified Wood Bowl features the reaction that fusing BE Petrified Wood glass on Robin’s Egg Blue glass generates. This bowl is finished with a black enamel lip wrap.

Techtonics was inspired by the syncline formation in the cliffs along the Columbia River near Lyle, Washington. The syncline in this piece is achieved using the natural edges of the hand poured glass layered to resemble the folds in the rock formation.

My love affair with glass and my skills and expertise in working with it, have naturally aligned with my experience and love of teaching. So, in addition to my personal work in the studio, I also enjoy sharing my skills with adults and young people who might just want to make something beautiful with glass, or with others who are beginning an exploration of the glass medium and hopefully will begin their own artistic adventures.

I’m so glad I can continue my guild membership even though I now live in Montana. I appreciate the news of all the activities you all continue doing to bring gorgeous glass to the community. Know that if any of you are traveling to/through Missoula, MT or the Bitterroot Valley I’d love to hear from you…and to get together for a visit if you have time! See my Members’ Gallery page or my website for more info

(Terri is having a candle holder class in Hamilton MT if you happen to be in the Missoula area December 7th)

Terri’s demo nightlights

Fused glass captured my heart & imagination from the first class I took in 2006. Glass has such a draw through the color and light it brings to its environment and is wonderful for both decorative & functional uses.

I work at my home studio in Gresham, Oregon. The process to create one piece can involve several firings over many hours. This involves cutting, torch-working pieces to add to the project, assembly, firing multiple times in the kiln, and finally cold-working as needed to create a quality product and finish. It is still a joy to learn new techniques from classes and other artists.

Daryle Ryder at Gathering of the Guilds 2024

I started working in stained glass in the early 1980’s. I enjoyed doing hobby pieces for fun and gifts. While living in Wallowa, Oregon I opened a studio in my house, participating in local shows and doing some commissioned pieces for installation in private homes.

In about 1995, I took a class in Portland on fusing and got hooked. It wasn’t long before I found a used kiln to purchase. Through many experiments, I learned a lot about fusing, including many things not to do again. In 2002, I moved the Eugene area where I became involved with Eugene Glass School. I took classes from a variety of instructors and got involved with a vibrant glass community. There was a lot going on: shows, classes, and others to work with. The year 2013 took me to Astoria to help my dad, resulting in somewhat of a break from glass work.

After my father’s passing and a divorce, I landed in Salem. I have set up a studio here at my house giving an occasional beginner class and the last 3 summers participating in Saturday Markets in Salem, Silverton, and Astoria. I just wrapped up my second season at The Oregon Garden “Art in the Garden” and will be participating in a number of holiday shows. It has been great to get to know other glass artists in the PNWGG. I was looking for other artists to work with, learn from, and be challenged by.

I started my glass art journey in 2012, then joined the Oregon Glass Guild in 2013. Many people ask how I got started making glass art. I’ve attended art fairs around the Portland area for many years and was always drawn to the glass displays. One day a friend said “you know you can learn to do this yourself”. Of course I was shocked that was possible, but thrilled when I found Aquila Glass and began my journey.

For the first several months, I used the pretty glass to make plates and bowls When I tired of that, I started making decorative nightlights, ornaments, and more intricately decorated plates and bowls. I would bring them to work to show my friends and they all wanted to buy my creations. Not only did they buy what I brought in, they also ordered commissioned pieces as well.

Since I didn’t own my own kiln yet, I took everything to a nearby shop and rented their kiln. I think everyone knows what a pain cleaning and reassembling all those little pieces of glass is! My husband was so surprised by all the pieces I was making and selling that he surprised me with a kiln for Christmas of 2012. That kiln had a 12” shelf and it took only 3 years for me to add another kiln with a 20” shelf. That was a real game-changer for me. By this time I was getting bored making plates and bowls, but really enjoyed designing and creating more artistic pieces.

It didn’t take long for me to want to take classes from people whose work I admired so I could learn new techniques and improve my skills. After taking several classes from local glass artists and admiring the work of others further away, on behalf of the Guild, I contacted one of my favorite artists to see if they would come to Portland to do a class. I did that for four or five years and all the participants were thrilled they could take these classes locally.

As far as a technique I am known for, there are actually two. Several years ago it occurred to me that I could mimic the Bullseye rolled edge and use it as the top of my artwork. Oddly enough, someone once told me I needed to work on my cutting skills so my piece had a straight top edge. Obviously, this was an intentional design element. The second thing is that I prefer to leave texture on my pieces. Most of my pieces are landscapes, so I first create my background and mid-ground before full fuse firing, then I tack fuse my foreground on leaving a lovely texture that catches the light and sparkles. Additionally, it draws people in to touch the piece for tactile enjoyment as well as visual.

I really enjoy creating beautiful, realistic landscapes and pieces with animals or birds. When people see my work in person, they always say how beautiful it is and that they’ve never seen anything like it. It’s such a challenge and I feel very pleased when I create a piece that has great depth and proper perspective making it feel like you’ve “been there” or you could walk right into the scene. The most challenging aspect of this art form is putting down enough powdered frit to give the intensity of color I want. This is especially true for transparent pieces where the color can sometimes just disappear during firing.

I’m always interested in learning new techniques or trying new products. I find that I rarely take a class then simply repeat the process to make another and another. Instead I usually find some part of it that I particularly like and incorporate that into my work. I think this is why people tell me they’ve never seen anything like my glass art; because it’s a combination of techniques. That being said, I have taken classes and purchased products that just don’t appeal to me and I either don’t use them or I find a way to incorporate just a little of what I learned into what I do. I’ll be bringing some of these unused items to the bargain table at the Guild picnic August 11th at Gail Haskett’s in Battle Ground WA. Hope to see you there!

See more of Linda’s work in the Members’ Gallery

I have been deeply moved by the transformation, connection and magic that occurs when separate materials are brought together to form an integrated whole. This theme is central to my work with mosaics, mosaic jewelry, and glass fusion. Many times, my work will incorporate all three together.

Each project begins by gathering materials, such as different sizes and shapes of glass, ceramic tiles, semi-precious stones, charms, beads, buttons, and smaller found objects. Assembly then begins with placement of color, patterns, and texture into the designed project. The result may be in the form of a piece of mosaic jewelry, a representation of a bird’s feather or other life form, some visual movement like flowing water, or an abstract landscape design. Always my focus is on harmony and integration of materials. If the artwork is only made using glass, I fire it in a glass kiln where more transformation takes place through the application of heat.

Artistic work for me is a metaphor for living a satisfying, balanced, and harmonious life. To live this way, it is important to explore the elements that work and fit together, discard or transform what doesn’t, and keep going deeper, ever changing, and discovering. It is my hope that my artistic creations telegraph and inspire that sense of depth, harmony, and balance.

You can see more of my work at
http://www.karelmurphydesigns.com/

I live and have my studio in The Dalles, Oregon on the beautiful Columbia Gorge. I really enjoy all the amazing things you can create with glass. I started taking stained glass classes in the late 1990s and loved it. I was in a metal clay class with long time Guild communications volunteer Charlene Fort and she introduced me to fused glass in 2014. She has become my best friend and the rest became history.

I’ve assisted teaching classes in schools and other people’s studios. I recently taught a Play Day on making molds for freeze and fuse. We had great fun and a lot of laughs. I just did a demo on the same subject at the Vendor Fair in Seattle. I’m anxious to try what I learned in a recent class in alternative freeze and fuse as well as learning to make flash glass and use those techniques for new projects.

When the Gorge chapter of the Oregon Glass Guild was still active I served as president. In the Pacific Northwest Glass Guild I am currently team lead for both Communications and Sponsorship. I would encourage all of the members to try and find a spot where they could help out. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time or time consuming. You can find a link to the volunteer opportunities on the main page of our web site.

I joined the guild because of the information they provide, the fun potlucks, Christmas parties and the play dates. As well as the perks we receive from the people and business that contribute to us. We gain so much from being in the Guild. And it is wonderful to to have a page in the Members’ Gallery that I can use as my website.

Hello from sunny Alberta … home of the Wild Rose. Located just ten minutes from the Edmonton International Airport, we relocated to Leduc in the summer of 2023.

My glass interested started in 2010 when we were holidaying in Quartzite Arizona shortly after retiring from my day job as Director of Human Resources for the City of White Rock.

We joined the local Rock and Gem Club and started taking classes in everything they had to offer.

Memories of Spring

I kept hearing about this amazing woman named Greta and finally got to meet her. I enrolled in her beginners glass class and discovered dicrohic glass…it was just as sparkly as all the rocks we had been grinding in the lapidary shop. I was hooked from day one and Greta and I became best friends. When I returned to Canada I did not have anyone to keep my learning going so spent hours on the internet and Facebook connecting with other glass artists who were willing to help with my journey. I am forever grateful to them.

I discovered that I love to experiment and without any formal art training, did not know what I was supposed or not supposed to do so pushed a lot of limits. My husband still sometimes ask me if I am really going to make something or just play. In my quest for learning I have experimented with just about every process and technique out there.

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Dennis Brady (Glass Campus and Victorian Art Glass) who also loves to experiment so sometimes we were like two mad scientists. An example was when I was testing enamels for him. We mixed them with so many mediums including Murphy’s oil soap and liquid shortening…glad he was the one who had to fire them as the stink was awful but we had interesting results. I joined him in Las Vegas as his TA at the Glass and Bead Expo show…loved the experience but it was exhausting.

Poppy Fields

Spring Bear

Here’s Looking At You

Angel of Death

One of my visits to Portland, Greta took me to a Guild Board meeting and I was so happy to find an organization that had such great glass artists and best of all, they invited me to join them…it has been a wonderful experience. I have served in the role of Membership Director and a member of the newsletter team. I am not an active seller as I love donating my work to the various charities I belong to or support.

I have taken courses from artists such as Kelly Crosser Alge, Cheryl Chapman, Marguerite Beneke, Evelyn Gottschall Baker, Bob Leatherburrow, Alice Benvie Gebhart to name a few. Currently I am studying with Narcissus Qualiatia who is an incredible, creative master of glass. My next course will be with Derek Hunt…I love learning as much as I love experimenting.

Sunflower

Connections Across the Universe

Bruno

My teaching involves students who are interested in learning all aspects of glass which makes for wonderful long term relationships. Recently I introduced my Leduc students to my Vancouver Island students. We decided to do a new project each month together. This month’s project is a creation using glass leaves…lots of freeze and fuse, casting, grinding, and painting happening.

Glass Maple Leaf

Autumn Pleasure

I have been attending  one or two glass fusing classes per year for 20 years!  This does not make for an experienced craftsman!  I have to relearn everything each year.  But my passion for anything glass began immediately, when I toured the art glass manufacturers here in the PNW 20 years ago.  What a privilege to be exposed to so much diversity and talent in the art glass field.

I joined the PNW Glass Guild a few years ago at the behest of Sheri Spurlock, the owner of  Melt Glass.  She informed me of the discounts available to Guild members.  Soon after, I attended Guild meetings and special events and found this open, glass-enthusiastic community.  It has been a wonderful experience from the get-go; from becoming aware of all the fusing techniques to the camaraderie of other enthusiasts.  This past year I attended classes offered by Ann Cavanaugh and Kory Dollar – learning two completely different glass techniques.

Now I am in a position to focus, which I’ve yet to do!  My goal is to solidly understand the techniques of glass fusing and glass-on-glass mosaic work. In appreciation to the Guild for what it has offered me, I’m serving this year as Membership Chair.  As with any organization, there are too few people and too little time to cover all the duties to make it run smoothly.  It’s my privilege to be here!  Hope to meet you all along the way! 

I grew up in a flourishing craft city in upstate NY. Taking advantage of the rich culture, I took many classes from Genesee Arts Co-Op and RIT to become a potter. I enjoyed this craft for more than 15 years.  When I moved to the West Coast, I became interested in glass, and I took a Mosaic class with a friend at Marvelous Mosaics Fine Arts.  After that I was hooked! I love glass with all the different colors and textures.  The class was great, and our teacher Kory Dollar was so knowledgeable and patient. Since then, I have gone on to take several other classes from Kory to extend my knowledge in color, composition and glass cutting. To broaden my glass experience I have taken classes at Bullseye and Melt. Both are excellent resources to learn different techniques. 

I have shown my work at the 2023 PNWGG Gathering of the Guilds (GOTG), Shirley Bishop’s Open Studio tour last September, and the Portland Artisan Holiday Market. I will be at this year’s 2024 PNWGG GOTG at a group booth and also as a cashier on April 19-21st in Portland. I hope to see you there! 

Shirley in part of her studio on the PNW Glass Guild’s 2023 Open Studios tour

I’ve been in love with all things glass since a very early age and never realized it until I had the opportunity to explore glass fusing myself in 2013. At that point I was blessed to have the opportunity to grow my love of glass into a business, Studio13 GlassArt, which I founded with the goal of mastering all the elements of glass used in design while instructing others how to do the basics. Why Studio13? My oldest brother (of 5) who also loved glass and dabbled in fusing, died in 2013 from ALS. He was a special person in my life. As well, the numbers 1, 3, 13, 31 all represent important dates in my life. Last of all, Friday the 13th is always my lucky day!

Every day I dream of taking my glass to the next level. Situated on 20 beautiful wooded acres in Washougal, WA, my 1,200 square foot studio/workshop/gallery which was once our home has become a venue for weekend workshops and hopefully more in the years to come. I welcome anyone and everyone to visit my studio and enjoy the aura of creativity that seems to blossom more and more every day. In the 10 years I have been doing this I have developed a unique style that is all my own. My creative designs are recognized by those in the Pacific Northwest seeking local art. Over the years I have taught hundreds of students and have built a loyal following of collectors who appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of my work.

Shirley shows off her frit storage: fired samples on every lid

Shirley’s newest heART piece will be at the one-day Camas HeARTfest art show and sale on February 10th. She also participates in the Washougal Studio Artists Spring tour in May and the PNW Glass Guild’s Open Studios tour in September.

See Shirley’s class offerings and more of her work at https://www.studio13glassart.com/

A recent commission

I was introduced to glass fusing in 2018 by a friend who invited me to a class at Moltenworks Glass Studio in Woodinville. Although I had never considered myself artistic, I found the three-dimensional nature of glass absolutely fascinating, and couldn’t wait to go back. Thanks to the amazing support and mentorship of PNW Glass Guild members Wendy Hatch and Karen Seymour, as well as the very patient and kind folks at Moltenworks, I’ve learned so many new skills in the past five years and am I excited to be developing my own “voice” as a glass artist.

I particularly enjoy the variety of textures that you can create with fused glass and I continue to explore new techniques. I’ve also become involved this year as a volunteer with the Guild, helping behind the scenes with the newsletter and the website, because I value connecting with other artists and the many learning opportunities that are available as a Guild member.

Lesley Kelly is the incoming 2024 Board President. She started doing stained glass in 2004, learning from classes at Cline’s Glass after her daughter went to college. In 2008, she began fusing. Since then, she has tried her hand at multiple forms of glass art, including glass blowing, beads, fusing, stained glass, mosaics, etc.

The light coming though glass and creating colors fascinates Lesley as well as the idea of creating nature through art. Lesley creates a lot of bubble glass and has also been working with the new delicate disco method taught by Amanda Simmons. This method uses powder to create glass squares that are then slumped in drop rings to create bowls or other pieces. When asked what new techniques she wants to try right now, she replied, “I just need time to work on the ones I have learned in the past few years!”

Lesley joined the glass guild in 2004 and started helping Charlene Fort with running the Gathering of the Guilds (GOTG) shows. She served as volunteer coordinator for that as well as the information booth for the show for a lot of years. She was the membership chair of the Guild for two years, then treasurer for three years, and volunteered to chair the GOTG in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Her goal is to make the Guild a resource for all members, have meetings that really draw members to them, and to get the Guild on a good financial footing.

Barb Kienle is the incoming 2024 Board Co-Vice President.

Barb lives in Portland and attended the Gathering of the Guilds for many years. She always found herself drawn to the Glass Guild section, marveling at the beauty of the pieces and the talent of the artists. One year her husband gave her a kiln for Christmas. She has no idea how he decided that was a gift she would want or use, but it sat in its box for two years in the garage. With an all-consuming career and very little free time, she felt overwhelmed by learning how to use a kiln. However, as her retirement approached, Barb decided to take a class at Bullseye Glass.

In the class, Barb learned how to cut glass and made a simple plate. Very basic, but it was enough to boost her confidence and she went home to unpack the kiln. That was 5 years ago. Basically self-taught through videos and trial and error, Barb credits some wonderful artists she has met along the way who have generously shared information and techniques with her. She tries to pay that forward when meeting others who are learning.

Barb enthuses, “I love the texture of tack and contour fusing and I love flowers and beach scenes. I do a couple events a year to sell things so I can replenish my glass supplies.” She now splits her time between Portland and Arizona. When they decided to spend the winters in Arizona a few years ago, she told her husband that she could not go 5 months without doing glass, so they set up a small studio space in their garage in Arizona. Barb loves being able to work all year with glass and hosts open studio times for friends in AZ.

Barb joined the Glass Guild at the suggestion of a friend who said it was a great way to be part of the glass community and learn from others. She reflects, “I am not the most outgoing person, but have tried to participate in some of the events and have always felt welcomed. I look forward to sharing the Vice President position with Carlyne Lynch and continuing to learn from all of you.” 

Carlyne Lynch, from Wilsonville, Oregon, is stepping into the role of Co-Vice President of the Board for 2024. Carlyne is a member of Artistic Portland Gallery, a cooperative gallery of 24 artists who run, manage and staff the Gallery

Utilizing a variety of techniques in her glass work, she combines torch work, glass powder, glass pieces, and glass paint to create multiple layer pieces. While doing some bead work, lately she has been making more elements to embed in glass. With a vitrigraph kiln, Carlyne creates much of her own cane.

For her fused work, Carlyne uses several layered techniques and confesses to always feeling surprised when the kiln opens. She comments, “Working with glass is fun and challenging and allows me to harness my abundance of energy in a creative way.” She just built a teaching studio and recently started teaching classes in Vitrigraph design, watercolor technique and layered elements.

Carlyne is eager to serve on the Board in 2024. “I have been in the PNW Glass Guild for eight years and served as your webmistress for four and a half years. I look forward to this coming year serving with a wonderful group of volunteers.”

Becky Meinhart is the incoming 2024 PNW Glass Guild Secretary. She is from Gresham, Oregon. Becky’s fascination with fused glass began twenty-five years ago. She was familiar with ‘blown’ glass, having worked for a glass blower while in her teens. However, ‘fusing’ was a new concept she was compelled to learn what it meant to fuse glass. Having shared her intrigue with a friend, she began taking classes, joining the Oregon Glass Guild and learning multiple techniques from some of the finest glass professionals on the planet! She notes, “While the Guild was always a great resource in so many ways, I was privileged to learn from some of the finest artist/teachers: Ann Cavenaugh, Mark Hufford, Alicia Lomne’, Kelly Crosser-Alge, and the list goes on.”

The areas of glass art that interest Becky the most are deep scenery pieces (thank you Ann!), enamels on glass, lighting (which requires collaborating with metal artists), and, more recently, mosaic work. Having experienced many changes in her life, which resulted in a hiatus from glass work for several years, Becky has recently relocated back to Oregon, from Washington, and is setting up her studio and looking forward to creating again.

Becky is excited about serving on the Board. “The PNWGG has been a great organization and I am grateful for the wonderful members I have known over the years and look forward to serving again and meeting new members!”

Evan giving a demonstration during the 2022 Open Studios

In 2008 Evan started his own glass design and production company, Local Art Glass LLC. In addition to having a great team of six artisans helping him make his work, Local Art Glass is also Portland, Oregon’s only public glassblowing studio. It is located upstairs in an intriguing building called the Pickle Factory.

Evan’s studio practice is divided between two disciplines – design and fine art. On the design side Evan and his team create decorative and functional items for the home and office, including drinkware, vases, urns, bowls, and ornaments.  In 2020, Local Art Glass became the top seller of hand-blown ornaments on Etsy.com, making them one of the top producers of high-quality hand-blown ornaments in the country.

Kathy Johnson just celebrated 40 years of being part-owner of PNW Glass Guild sponsor Glass Expressions in Burien, WA, just south of Seattle. She started making glass beads in 1991. Her custom bead-portraits of horses combine her love of horses with her eye for detail and mastery of bead-making. Lately she has been combining fused glass with welding.

When she’s not out sailing she does expert stained glass repairs, plays with glass using all sorts of methods, and often wins glass cutting contests. She’s also a great teacher. You can see her in action in her Glass Classroom videos on YouTube or by taking a class in person.

If you take the Guild-sponsored GlassAndDecor.com studio tour in north Seattle on October 14-15 stop by site #3 to see and talk to her about her work.